A team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has left for China to assist in investigations in a case where 17 Chinese and a Sri Lankan allegedly hacked into websites and carried out frauds.
The 17 Chinese suspects that included 6 women who were arrested on May 24 in Colombo by the Cyber Crime Division of the CID within three weeks after they received complaints from China, were deported to China where they face charges.
The suspects allegedly hacked into data bases of Chinese companies and defrauded over US dollars two million.
The Sri Lankan suspect who was also arrested on the same day was identified as Prasanna Vitharanage who is married to a Chinese.
Army awaits MRI
report while ‘poisoned’ soldiers return to camp
By Hansani Bandara
The 90 soldiers affected by food poisoning last week, have since fully recovered and returned to their respective camps, amidst suspicions that yoghurt consumed by them was the cause, said Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasekara.
“Samples of food consumed for lunch on the day (26) the soldiers fell ill, have been sent to the Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Colombo. Once their report is issued, we will know what went wrong’, he said.
He said that, since the soldiers were from different camps in the area, it could not have been due to the preparation. “We suspect that this was caused after consuming yoghurt given to soldiers after lunch” Brigadier Wanigasekara said.
He said that action will be taken to avert similar incidents in the future, while further decisions will be taken after the report of the MRI is issued.
Last week, 90 soldiers from Army camps in the Minneriya area fell victim to food poisoning, with symptoms of fever, loose motion and severe abdominal pain. Of the 90 soldiers, 65 had been admitted to the Polonnaruwa Hospital and others to Hingurakgoda Hospital.
Teenager’s death by
addiction to pain killer
triggers probe
By Aanya Wipulasena
The Cosmetic Devices and Drug Regulatory Authority (CDDRA) has launched an investigation into the over-the-counter availability and sale of medicinal drugs sans doctors’ prescriptions, in the North Western province, following the death by addiction to a pain killer, of a 19-year-old-youth in Rajanganaya last Wednesday, Authority Director Dr. Hemantha Benaragama said. Aravinda Thusitha Perera died after taking 38 tablets of Tramadol, a strong painkiller given to those who are severely injured.
Aravinda’s sister Indeewari Sandya Perera (18) said that her brother always carried these tablets in his wallet, and has fainted several times after taking them.
After Aravinda’s death, people of the area staged a protest in front of Parakrama Hospital, demanding the authorities to arrest the doctor who prescribed the drug to the youth.
The doctor had fled the area, following the death of the youth.
The doctor has allegedly been prescribing and selling these pain killers to people, mostly youth, in the Rajanganaya area. As Tramadol tablets were inexpensive, the youth of the area became addicted to the drug.
However, the company which imports this drug, has directed pharmacists not to provide Tramadol capsules without a doctor’s prescription. “These are classified under Schedule 11 B of the Cosmetic Devices and Drug Act, and need to be considered as ‘restricted’ items, which should be dispensed only through a prescription, i.e. the number of tablets/injections being issued should not exceed the quantity stipulated on the prescription,” stated a letter sent by the company to all chemists, distributors, sales representatives, medical representatives and sales managers.
It also said that the pharmacies which did not abide by this rule, be blacklisted.
The Cosmetic Devices and Drug Regulatory Authority is regularly conducting routine inspections, said Dr. Beneragama. He explained that medical officers have been deployed to inspect pharmacies which violate rules and act against them.
Flights delayed by
computer breakdown
A two-hour breakdown in computer systems at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday resulted in delayed flights and long waits for inbound and outbound passengers.
The Immigration and Emigration Department’s computer system was down from 3 pm to 5 pm. The department is investigating the system failure.
Voter registration for 2012 underway
Voter registration for 2012 began island wide last Friday, an Elections Department official said.
Registration forms are distributed to households by the Grama Niladaris and July 15 is the deadline to collect the completed registration forms.
A deadline is given for the collection of registration forms this year as there were complaints that the registration process took a longer time than expected in previous years.
For the first time every household is given the information on how their names, birth dates and national identity card numbers appeared in last year’s electoral register. Voters are given the opportunity to inform officials regarding the changes needed to be done in the electoral register.
This year’s Provincial Council elections are based on last year’s electoral register as the registration process is still underway for 2012. |
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